PHOENIX — Two Phoenix police officers were injured and two civilians were killed in a shooting Sunday night near 27th Avenue and Deer Valley Road.
Officials on scene Sunday night told ABC15 that this incident was considered an active shooter situation.
A Phoenix police spokesperson said the incident started when a man wearing tactical-type gear exited a hotel in the area. The man, reportedly armed with a semi-automatic rifle, started firing into the hotel.
He was reported to be wearing a ballistic vest with steel plates in the front and back, a ballistic helmet, a gas mask, knee pads, and multiple magazines for the rifle.
On Monday, police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Isaiah Steven Williams.
Around that time, a vehicle with a man and woman inside pulled into the parking lot, and the man fired at the vehicle, killing both occupants.
Police identified the man killed as 36-year-old Misael Arevalo and the woman killed as 44-year-old Karla Garzona.
Williams also reportedly tried to light a Molotov cocktail and throw it at a nearby business, but it did not ignite.
When officers arrived, police say they were met with a "barrage of gunfire" and exchanged shots with the armed man.
Two officers were hurt — one was shot and another was struck by shrapnel in multiple parts of the body and face — and both were taken to the hospital for treatment. Both have since been released are said to be recovering.
Four fully marked police patrol vehicles were also damaged by gunfire.
Williams was eventually found dead at the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Phoenix police.
Police say surveillance video showed the man making his way through the parking lot before collapsing.
Three other men who were at the scene were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. At this time, police believe those victims were injured during the chaos before officers arrived.
"This is a very complex scene with dozens of people to interview," said Phoenix Police in a tweet.
It's not yet known what caused the shooter to become violent.
We spoke with a man who says he heard dozens of gunshots & sheltered in place inside this Circle K for about a half hour. pic.twitter.com/Nf7a1dEgbu
— Jamie Warren (@JamieABC15) August 29, 2022
Arizona Department of Transportation camera footage showed a large police presence blocking the normally busy intersection in the area.
Deer Valley Road from the Interstate 17 overpass to 27th Avenue was closed for hours during the investigation but has since reopened.
Justin Aragon says he moved to north Phoenix to get away from exactly what happened a couple of hundred yards from his house.
“When evil wants to come out and hurt people, it comes out wherever, whenever through whoever,” said Aragon who lives in the RV Park that backs up to the shooting.
Chaz Lynn was in the area and says he’s lucky to be alive.
“It was pretty wild because it was like the bullets were hitting near me,” Lynn said.
He was one of several witnesses who said they heard rapid gunfire for about 15 minutes.
“Really just, take every day like it could be your last,” said Lynn.